Thetownend.com

Big game, important to keep up the pressure on Preston now.


2-0 win in front of the cameras!

COYR

2.1 win
800 plastics overall 10400

 :pint:

2-1 win,Swift and Turnbull to keep the pressure on Preston. 9872 with 797 concrete roundabouters present

A win.  Anything else will be a let down against Franchise.

Can we please not call Franchise, Plastics...that's Reading. I know we haven't played them for a while, but an outside chance they'll get relegated.

Franchise are Customers.

Haven't looked forward to a game so much for ages - real business end stuff.

A good performance and a win will be the springboard for our promotion charge.

3-1, 10654, 734 Franchise clients, Williams, Smith, Byrne on the scoresheet

Yeah, I feel the same, really buzzing for this, feels like a play-off semi final game or something.

A must win if we're to realistically keep our autos chance alive.

Can't wait.

Fixed for you

Spotted enroute

(http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab225/mark_woolhouse/franchise%20away_zpsgkik6exo.jpg)

This really feels like a play off game. We must win. Anything else is unthinkable.

I will say 2-0 - Williams, Smith as that is my default prediction for this season but I can't imagine only two goals will be scored over the 90 minutes.

I can see us drawing today, then winning against City.

Queue the melt down in between.

1-0 to us.... Williams.

lucky 2-1 win leaving the huge army of traveling MK customers contemplating who Man Utd are playing next week

2 0 and a draw at city will see us keep the pressure on Preston

I'll go for a 2  0 win but and theirs always a but last time we had a break in our season, it took us a month to get over it.
I'll be singing my heart out for the lads while everyone around me (centre DR) act like they're at a cricket match.

Going for 2-1.
Leaving soon.
Feel nervous yet excited for this one.......get behind the lads today from the off.
Hope we at least get double figures with the crowd.

We're live on sky and everyone seems confident, 1-3 defeat.

I hope we get more than 9 as well Duke  ;)

I'm going. God I hope we win. If you offered me a win either today or at Ashton Gate, I'd take today in a heartbeat. More important in the league table, and more important for football.

Tight but 1-2 defeat.

10,001

Slow start, go 1-0 down first 15. Win 2-1 with goals from Smith and Swift. 9954 attendance

Really excited for this one. I'm going for a 1-0 win - Branco bullet header and plenty of thrills and spills. Approx 9000 fans in the ground plus some consumers of the MK Brand. If they try and engage you in conversation, walk away.

Think I might get on the booze now. Looking forward to this, been ages since I've been able to watch us on the box.

I've had 7 hours sleep over the last two days, I hope to god we win cause I'm not in a state where I can handle a loss

I feel nervous.

We HAVE TO WIN!

I don't care how.

Franchise  come 3rd bottom in the league table for all FL clubs for % of away fans vs. home attendance.  They consistently sit towards the bottom.

Interestingly, Bristol City come 66th out of 72 and again  are consistent year on year.

We come 57th but saw a drop off from previous years.  We fluctuate a bit with our 5 year average putting us around 30th-40th.

Well done to teams like Bury and Peterborough who always get 10%+.  Leeds do well most years as well, along with Rochdale and Port Vale.

(http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j139/zee1116/raven-scared-gif.gif)

Reading 2nd bottom.

Dons won't win (anag.)

Please make SC feel welcome today  ;)

I can't remember us playing well for a long while when on the box, but I'm watching it live today and much more hopeful!   2-1.

Did you miss the last game we were on the box then?

Town starting XI: Foderingham, Branco, Thompson N (C), Turnbull, Byrne, Ricketts, Stephens, Luongo, Gladwin, Swift, Smith #STFC

Subs: Belford C, Toffolo, Rodgers, Kasim, Hylton, Williams, Obika #STFC

Rickets left wing back I assume, or Gladwin LWB and Ricketts holding?

Reads as though Gladwin is LWB.

Looks like a team that is set up to be hard to break down.

That looks to me like Ricketts is either LWB or RWB (with Byrne switching to the left), probably the former though.

Strong looking XI and bench.

EDIT: Apparently Ricketts IS in midfield, and Gladwin at LWB. Weird.

Dele Alli back for MK.

That's a strong MKD line-up...

1st XI: Martin; Hodson, McFadzean, Kay, Lewington (c); Potter, Alli; Bowditch, Carruthers, Powell; Grigg.

SUBS: Burns, Spence, Green, L Baker, Hall, Cole, Hitchcock.

Never heard of 'em.

Rickets in back three, Turnbill pushed to wingback.

bit too much tinkering for my liking

Surely Stephens would be the one to push to midfield? Oh hang on, miscounted, five centre backs?

Bizarre line up. Branco or Ricketts at wing bk?

Town End turnstile queue back to the club shop, looks a big attendance

Too many changes of position.  Not really the time to be trying stuff out.  Let's hope it doesn't backfire.

any good links to watch the game online?

Steve Cotterill in the sky studio just to my left. Can we give him some on air feedback?

Wtf are sky playing at?? Why have shitty manager talking about shitty when its supposed to be a match between two different teams, I dont give a fkying fuck about shitty

because they are a huge club

Surprise surprise, Cotterill goes for a Stealers win.

He really is vile.

Can someone rip their chair up and thwack Cotterill around the chops please.  Jonathon Douglases bit of crumpet  in the box with him.  Shows how seriously sky take these matches doesn't it?  Rival manager with a poor record of giving credit where it's due yapping on about his team instead of the two actually playing today.

Seems I'm too late for my prediction :(

1-0 Gladwin.

2-0 town

20 quid bet with the mrs!

He's a twitchy bastard. He looks like he's going to lose it at any moment. Hopefully Tuesday night after we've won both games....

soapy tit wank, I can hear people calling Cotterill a cunt.

.....and a wanker.... :D

That was slack Nathan Thompson, slack.

Lucky to get away with that

Should have been a penalty.

Fods keeping us in this.

It's a bit unnerving isn't it. MKD will take one of these chances.

...but we're not playing terribly.

Flashheart ... are you watching on a stream? If so, pray share the link. Seems Russian TV don't consider this an important match. Philistines!

http://www.livestream365.com/sl/swindon-town-fc-mk-dons

That's 3 sitters we've missed now.

Impressed so far with Byrne and Gladwin.  And Wes.

Alli scares me, though.  Bad feeling about Alli.

http://footballstreaming.info/streams/todays-links/index.html

Where are you watching from Bob?

That boot in to the face of Mass Luongo looked a little late did it not?

Or as Bristol City fans would call it, a dive.

Don't get this set up at all with Ricketts in midfield, no energy in midfield at all and getting a bit overrun and unable to play our usual football. It's not even helping us be solid as they are getting plenty of chances.

Three big chances each - difference being we've needed Wes but haven't tested their GK. Nothing in this really, but worrying how easily Powell and Alli are carrying the ball forward.

Franchise getting too much possession for my liking.  Their midfield > ours.

Jesus wept smithy

the biggest issue is the easy way they are cutting through on attack. so many men over.

Ricketts looks a smidge slow to try and keep Alli in his pocket

51/49 in our favour, which is impressive against the 'best footballing team in division' but not our normal dominance - to be expected I'd suggest.

lewington has Byrne in his back pocket

Our central midfield seems to be a vertical line up the pitch.
Luongo
Stephens
Ricketts

Stephens isn't really able to do a great deal at the moment

Franchise edged that half I think.

Thanks Exiled :)

And… breathe.

Not good enough.  Need more steel in midfield.  And someone needs to trouble their keeper once in a while.

yes. thank foderingham they failed to take chances. not all one way mind.

Angers.

Bit concerning how easily they've got in behind Branco and Byrne on our RHS. But equally we have created a few good opportunities on the break.  Makes for very nervous watching!

Town are trying to get in to a rhythm but it's not quite materialising.

We have options. I'm content.

Season defining half ahead? Probably not with 8 games to play after this one but it feels like it.

Interesting first half, both sides look very good on the break but lacking that final touch. Odd little flare up on the half time whistle, did anyone in the Arkell's see anything?

Had chances, but the early balls are killing us, Branco needs to wake up - couple times he has been caught out. Gladwin has been brilliant so far and Luongo is looking good when he gets on the ball.

Sounds obvious, but this really could go either way. They've looked more threatening on the whole but we've burst into life on occasion and come close. Their first penalty shout was perhaps 50/50 - touch in the back and he's thrown himself on the floor. Second looked more of an Andy King's missus sort of situation.

Been few bright points, we look very dangerous when we break at pace, our midfield seems a little disjointed, and a little over run at times, smith is battling well up front, bryne has been very frustrating, you dont have to beat half the team to pass the ball. We not controlling the game, but neither are franchise, but we are playing a very fine line in defence, one slip and we're fucked.

Franchise have had a spell with a couple of chances, I dont feel we've had a spell yet the

swap rickets for branco and stick on kasim.

apart from that i think we don't need to make any changes. looking great on the break but we've let them in too easy through branco imo

Yes. Definitely.

Nothing in it so far though.

But he invariably does, as MK are doubling, even tripling up on him.

It's no coincidence that everyone is thinking Byrne is having a little impact and Gladwin is outstanding.

Thompson out for City

Thompson out of City away

Didn't look a great deal in that challenge. Ref's been a bit iffy...makes me wonder if there's a howler in the locker (let's hope it goes for us)

Not necessarily a bad thing...

Especially with Ricketts available to slot in, Kasim fit again.

Except as a banner.

exactly and every danger of Thompson getting caught up in the atmosphere and has been a bit suspect of late anyway.

no bad thing

I'm inclined to agree.

we need to step this up another gear as MK are getting too much into this.

And thompson needs to be careful. can't afford to be down to 10. we need to win this

this

wankers

branco shit marking

A team playing two defensive central mids leaves it 5 on 4 at the back. Pathetic defending.

balls

About time. Franchise miles better then us.

I'll say again I don't get this set up and to continue with it has been even more bizarre. Why the hell have we decided to play defensively (something we know we can't do) at home in a match we really need to win?!

only in the second half have they been

It's been coming.  Foderingham has kept us in it.  Shit defending.

Strange subs.

You must be watching Arsenal v Liverpool. They should have been at least a goal up at ht. men against boys so far unfortunately

Don't think the subs are that strange, yaser and willo good options for swift and ricketts. We've not been as good second half but that can all change. COYR

Strange in that they were behind the horribly out of form Smith up front and a defender playing in centre mid.....

Try not to get too whiny chaps. We're still in this.

We've responded well here - and Willo off the bench is a great option to have.

never critical of cooper,but feel he should have started this one

Great goal

bollocks

OK to start whining now.

playoffs it is then

Balls,  they've deserved it to be fair

What a load of bollocks

this was a totally fucked up starting 11 and that is thr first time i have criticised the manager ever

I think our defence is showing why it's going to be hard to go up. that's as a team, not just the back line.

certainly have them the attacking initiative

Sickening.  But we had it coming.

Utter bollocks.  Wrong set up from the start and we've never really recovered.  Cooper has to take some blame.  Not the time to fuck about.  Defence has been poor as well. Getting caught continually.

Hadn't we just won 3 on the bounce? I don't know why he had to fuck about in the first place to 'try' and be defensive. We're only good on the front foot which by defition playing defensively is almost impossible to do.

Why on earth did we change the starting line up? Putting Ricketts straight in just seems crazy and our midfield has looked disjointed all game.

im not the hysterical type but i just cant stsnd losing to these utter utter cunts

Not good enough at the back, not decisive enough up front.

That's why we won't finish top two and won't win the play offs.

 :badmood:

Oh do shut up now you lot. It's getting a bit fucking monotonous.

And a manager who's not tactically good enough when it counts? He just can't help himself but to play with things..

This.  They're becoming a bit of a bogey team. Doesn't bode well for the play offs.

how can it be monotonous when its the 1st time ive ever criticised the manager

How was Lewington not sent off for that?

Unbelievable.

Hopefully the twat carries on his CG tradition of being stretchered off, the horrible cunt

Lewington should have gone then. What an absolute cunt of the highest order.

Perhaps I'm overly cautious going in to games as a football fan but I think many of our fanbase set themselves up for an almighty fall from time-to-time.

OK. That was totally crap tracking.

Fucking horrible.

One other point. Delivery from corners and free kicks has been dire. We've had countless corners but not one good delivery.

What a time for one of our worst performances of the season. Branco should be nowhere near the first team absolutely awful today.

They're better than us.

FACT!

There's no way we're going to beat them in the play offs either. Nowhere near good enough.

At least we weren't outnumbered at the back for the 3rd. Just 5 blokes ignoring the 3 franchise players in the box. Shambolic defending - no exaggeration.

Well clearly not if it was played today.  :crash:

Bollocks all round, playoffs it is then

I honestly don't think I could cope with losing to this lot in the Play Offs.

Brilliant season. Town got it very wrong today. The season continues...

A very flattering result, but the best team did win.

That doesn't make the club any less despicable though.

 :nod: I might need to keep off the drink that day.

Not sure Branco knows which country he is in let alone where he should be on the pitch.  Gaps are too big when a team runs at us and has a bit of movement.  Worry is we could get these again.

I still can't get my head around why we started out to try and combat their style of play. It's not like they are fucking Barcelona or anything. As it is we've just given them the initiative from the off and put in possibly put in our most disjointed display of the season.

Cooper sometimes just fucking leave things alone and play your best team! Don't try and be clever!

Sometimes you just have to take it on the chin and say the better side won.

Probably the best team to visit the CG this season. They stepped it up second half and we folded.

Onto the play-offs now.

As long as we don't have a Wilson-style collapse and go into the POs without any momentum.

i honestly think we may have won with the finishing 11

....well maybe toffo instead of obika/smith

Williams, Toffolo and Kasim will start at Ashton Gate.

Easy to be wise in hindsight but...

I think I would have started all of those today.

Quite how Nathan gets a yellow for standing up to a player and that ginger cunt doesn't get sent off for shoving Mark Cooper over I'll never know.

Defending second half was woeful. All there is to say really.

Must beat Shitty.  Must beat Preston.  Must win every other game.

Urrgh. I feel like i've been sexually assaulted.

They outclassed us second half though, Grigg, Carruthers and Powell were a different class.

Playoffs it is.

Toffolo was carrying an injury, which is probably why he didn't start.

The international break has cost us again.  We always play rubbish after.

Q. What impact did the subs make?
MC "When I made the substitutions it was 1-0, & it ended up 3-0, what do you think?"

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Thoroughly embarrassing.

They were superior to us all over the pitch and fuck knows how they aren't walking this league.

We offered nothing. Were lethargic and at times looked as if we couldn't be arsed.

There was no atmosphere for 10000 attendance.

Fucking shambles

Game was lost in the dressing room, five centre halves - two in midfield!!!  Why fuck about with a winning combination, Cooper was found out today as was the rest of our team after an even first half.  Some classic announcing, apparently the fifth official indicated the extra to be added on at half time and then he announced Swift was mom!!  Later rescinded to Fods, a correct decision!

I thought Robinson was good value in the post-match comments. Quite like the bloke, and wouldn't mind him here one day. Just a shame he's helping the dark side right now.

Thompson should have got a yellow after that but didn't so it evened out.
Lewington should have been sent off. Little good it would have done us.
He's going to be a fat fucker when he stops playing.

You've just gotta love him a bit for that.

although i absolutely fucking hate them I hope MKD go up autos cos we will never beat them in the play offs

:nod:

True, sadly.

Some people will never like him because of his connections with the Dark Side. I quite like him as well though.

Poor bastard was probably still recovering from trying to say Combat Splat Paintball

I'm going to sleep off my early session.

Looked to me as if our game plan was to keep it tight and then try to knick a goal. But our final ball and finishing was poor. Their plan was to counter attack. Once they fluked the first, the counter attacking and lack of tracking back by our midfield killed us. Really disappointed and annoyed, but not surprised.

Back in the merlin. Absolute dog shite performance. Of all the teams to lose to. Too many fucking players went missing today. Oh well back to the beer  :pint:

Two things.
I Would rather watch a committed side like MK than our predictable ONE PACE tippy tappy.
They attacked in numbers and defended in numbers. It's that one pace football that stopped my mate coming to football this season.
MK fans are not customers, they're fans. Supported their team throughout the 90. Just like we didn't.

We looked like a team that hadn't played for nearly three weeks,gave the ball away far too easily and some or most of our corners and crosses were terrible.Branco was his usual marmite self but I thought that Rickettsia had a decent game getting some decent tackles and blocks in.Automatic is going to be hard now but a decent finish still on the cards and hopefully the rustiness is out of the way and we start again on Tuesday with a win against city

Today was always going to be difficult after such a long break without a game.....I said it felt like the season was over, and hoped the players wouldn't be metaphorically on the beach, but they were..

However, the break may help at the PO end of season...

As an aside...

I saw no evidence of what one might call cheating tonight. From both teams. Sure the ref made some bad decisions and franchise should have had a penalty early on, but that's down to bad reffing.

I know. Maybe we should revert back to it?

 ;)

FUCK YEAH!

 I've been critical of Stephens in midfield and one up top, and we've ground out wins to prove me wrong every time. Until now. Today wasn't a terminal blow to automatic promotion, but it leaves us close to being dropped. I think we will need to beat City and Preston, I think Preston will drop at least 2 points somewhere but even so...

Today Franchise were better than us. That can't be denied. I'll never wish them well, but they deserved the win.

I'm not sure what we set up to do. Cooper says he Played Rickets to counter Ali, then I suppose Stephens was the Anchor man, and Luongo and Swift the attacking options with Smith the loan gun.

But the problem was, although Smith played well, he just isn't threatening enough on his own and is too isolated. Luongo showed moments of class but long periods of drifting doing fuck all. Swift had a reasonable game. Stephens didn't impress me today. Ricketts did OK.

And therein lies the problem, the midfield didn't work together and lost us the game. In the first half it would be obvious from TV that we created a load of chances, they created a load of chances which Wes did heroics to keep out. But what it may not have shown was that Franchise started to dominate in the key areas, and more worryingly got past our powder puff midfield to really put a numerical advantage against out back three. It happened time and time again. And yet I wasn't that worried.

Second half, and it didn't really happen at all from us. Once they scored the game got more and more stretched. And in desperation to get back on level terms we pretty much lost any regard of other duties in trying to score. Franchise are too good a team to not take advantage of such situations. City will be too. If Cooper genuinely looks at it as "it was 1-0 when I made subs and 3-0 after", as he said on the radio, then maybe I've over estimated him. I doubt he does, just taking heat off himself, Smith, and bringing Ricketts straight in.

Call it 'bottling' or stage fright or a lack of motivation, whatever you will, but we never really got going. Franchise did. Lets be honest, our form has been more hit than miss since January. Its results that count every time, but it worries me for the playoffs. Its all so frustrating, we are that close...

And yet MK hadn't played for 2 weeks and they somehow looked pretty OK  :hmmm:

Luckily, there isn't too much time to over-analyse this one.

On to Tuesday...

???

It's the extra 4 days which make all the difference.

I'm actually going to blank it out of my mind and will never mention it again starting....from....now

(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTI8EpQ4Kv8kL-CX9kcXOdbAikHWI_opxNKyclAp-Ty6-CxJODF)

well they sang one dull repetitive song to the beat of a drum anyway.

They have an exciting side to follow though and some proper footballers rather than flicks and tricks ones.

we'll see what Tuesday brings us but we looked knackered and lacked energy once the game had gone. Anymore performance like thst and it's 5th place for us.

You are still going up







to Rochdale in a couple of Saturday's 

The better side won on the day. Agree with whoever made the point about it being a good clean game. Their second pen shout looked like a dive but other than that no theatrics and no dirty play.

Interesting to see Cotterill and Robinson say the ref got the Lewington decision right. Does SC therefore think Pritchard shouldn't have been sent off for pushing a player over at Ashton Gate last season? If one's a red they both are.

Looking like play-offs now, but beat City and you never know. Preston still have to play us and City, and their game at Bradford on Monday won't be easy either.

Actually it's on a Tuesday, but nice try.

Yeah but half of our fucking team were actually on international duty!

If we play like that every game for the rest of the season, we may slip to 5th, but once or twice??Sheff U need to catch up 6 points, then we'd still have 2 games in hand, and quite possibly still be ahead on goal difference.

Give the team praise when they deserve it, as they did today. But please don't legitimise Winkleman or those who enable his evil

Die.

I'm still really bemused why Cooper changed the team today. Yes, Stephens can play well in midfield, but alongside Ricketts just didn't work. Would have made more sense to leave Ricketts until we actually need him (like we will on Tuesday) and play Toffs on the left and Gladwin in the middle. I'm still not a fan of Swift.

What if really like to see is a return to form of Kasim. He used to run games almost single handedly and now can't get in the team. Need a big change in performance on Tuesday if we've got any shot at the autos.

The meltdown on Twitter is fucking hilarious to be fair.

Also, I love the differing opinions of the football fan... at one point in my timeline on Twitter, I saw that Gladwin was considered 'total dog shit' - within two minutes I also saw the same player compared to Hoddle.

I think both comparisons are correct. That's Gladwin for you.

A total dog shit Hoddle?

Absolutely!

You know what I meant. Looks brilliant one minute making the opposition looks stupid. Then sort of goes into a trance where he looks like he can't be arsed.

I've not seen much of the team at all this season but a couple of observations and queries about them.

Gladwin is decent. impresses me when I see him but I read a lot of criticism of him. the couple of crosses that didn't come to anything were met with groans today. Why is this? I thought he was our best player today. Not everything is going to come off.

3 at the back. Is this to allow Nathan Thompson to run out with the ball from the back, allowing wide mids to tuck in and leaving in theory a spare centre back? All seems a bit head down charging into trouble and then giving the ball away to me. Maybe it works when I've not seen it. Do his runs ever lead to anything positive? Made us vulnerable today in my opinion.

nathan's pass completion rate must be very low indeed

I think the groans were more general frustration at putting in a poor ball from a promising position. I don't think there is anything from the fans specifically against Gladwin himself. That said, I do think he could work harder sometimes


No idea why we are 3 at the back. Cooper seems to like it and to be fair it seemed to be working for 3/4 the season. It has always made us look vulnerable at the back when a team works out how to play against it. Walsall at home last season put in a masterclass.

Decent summary.
Trying not to get too downbeat after that.
Easy to criticise after a loss but not that convinced when I heard the line up.
Still been a great season and hoping for a win at Bristol, yes hoping but likely the dreaded play offs.
Stick together .... We're used to this.

When we lose, we do lose in style.

Fods kept us in that. Thought Nathan was rotten today, on a yellow card and then commits anther stupid foul, lucky to stay on the pitch. I though Gladwin did ok. Second half franchise were too good and once they got their first goal it was game over.

I've not seen enough of him to pass fair judgment.
3 Can work as historically we've proven(ardiles- toddler eras) not a big fan of it nowadays though to be honest. Some of the defending at the end was schoolboy esq which could equally have occurred in a back 4 I suppose.

The only player to come out of that game with any sort of positive was Fods from a Swindon standpoint, the rest were terrible..

Branco, Turnbull and Thompson lost us that game today, Smith and Swift didn't ever look like winning us that game today, end of.

Fair play to Dongs, they wanted it more than us, which wasn't hard...  Terrible performance in both halves matched with an OK performance from Dongs produced the inevitable result..

Yeah, I think I'm more of a fan of 4, and I think Thompson is a right back shoehorned into a back 3, but 3 can definitely work.

Some teams have the players to exploit it, and today was one of those days. But I don't think the midfield helped them out today.

On NT specifically, I don't think he's had the best seasons. Definitely committed but he's been caught out a fair few times at the back. But its part of the way we play.  Earlier in the season it was an absolute pleasure to watch, it was some of the best football we've played for years and its a shame you missed it. We've not been that flowing for a little while though, but its not the time of season to tinker to get it back.

Tis true....I'd still rather play this open style, and lose a few heavily than be safety first, ultimately it may see us miss out, but you never know.

I hate the cunt from his Walsall days but Griggs tore us a new one today. Absolutely fucked over our defence. As good a performance as I've seen down here. Their no 22 was also decent. We were shit. The line up was ultra defensive and didn't work in any shape or form.
The midfield were generally fuck all use to the defence or attack.
MOM for me by a country mile was Gladwin. We created very little and what we did, he was at the heart of. Shows great skill and vision. I know he can look a languid bastard but I'd have him in the die every time.
The defence yet again though was total shit - carved apart time and time again. Nate Dog was ultra shit today and lucky to stay on the pitch. I would have thought it would have been good to take him off, move Stephens / Rickets back into the 3 and bring Kasim on but what do I know.
Its the play offs for us which is still good but the defence is not good enough and hasn't been for quite some time. We are particularly shit on the right hand side of defence and have been since X Mas, which coincides with Byrne's downturn in form.
I will defend Branco a bit for his performance today as he was constantly getting dragged out of position covering for our totally useless midfield. Swift is not exactly the hardest working player, is he?

It does make me giggle that there's so much abuse hurled at Franchise fans.. I mean, say you get into football around the age of 6-8.... they were formed 11 years ago, so realisitcally they can actually say they've supported them 'all their lives'...

Although, I think the way the club came about is a fucking shambles, for sure. Who did the older MKD fans support pre 2004?... Not Wimbledon, surely?

I've a question, it is regarding team selection but its not intended to be a moan as such, why have Kassim and Obika had far less game time than I think they should?

The midfield with Kassim and Luongo in it seemed to be our best option for ages, then after the Asia cup we've stuck Stephens in there. I know people say Kassim slowed play down too much, I've not really noticed it myself.

As I said earlier, never been a fan of one up front, but it is here and I guess that limits our starting lineup. But I'm not sure what Smith has over and above Obika. I suppose he must be better suited to the loan striker role in Coopers eyes. The point would make more sense if we played two up top I suppose.

I think the idea today was for Smith to play the target man and Swift to play in 'the hole' - it clearly didn't work. I know the 3 at the back idea worked for a long while, but I'm wondering whether we have the players to play 4 at the back. Maybe a 4-2-3-1 (if they insist on playing the holding mid and one up top). I don't know what Obika has to do to get a start though.

worst performance from Stephens since he's been here. Not sure anyone really understood position he was supposed to be playing - he certainly dfidn't. Completely agree with commenyts about ho committed MK Dongs looked. When they attacked there were alays plenty there in support. For all the defenders, holding midfielders etc we seemed constantly caught out in defence. Ricketts had his good moments but trying to fit him into the starting 11 seems to have screwed up the midfield that has got us to where we are in the table. Swift playing off Smith might have worked against out of sorts Notts County but definitely didn't today.

Here's the Cooper push. Defo red.

https://vine.co/v/OlHMil5hzpj

Stephens worst performance was away to Cheltenham. In fact it's probably the worst individual performance by any player this season. Today Stephens was poor but the players didn't have much of a fucking clue as to who was meant to be where on the pitch

I think we could have easily played 4 at the back today considering we had 5 defenders on the pitch.  Cooper just chose to play 2 of them in midfield instead.

What I mean is I wonder if they are the type of players to fit the mould of a 4 man defense.

Obviously I know we've got a decent amount of players in that position..

Where's our width going forward going to come from if we play 4 at the back though? We've got a lot of midfielder and forwards, all of them naturally play central though.

this

Age of fans is irrelevant.  The abuse stems from strong feeling that the club shouldn't even exist.  If you're going to legitimise the theft of a football club after 10 to 15 years simply because time has past, you might as well not bother objecting in the first place.  It was wrong in 2002 and it's wrong now.

Yes, I'm bitter.

I agree with this completely. They should have never been created. A disgrace, completely and utterly on every level.

I know Swift and Gladwin excite some fans and infuriate others, but what is Byrne offering the team at the moment?  Probably our only outlet with any real pace but rarely is there any end product in my opinion.  Certainly not in the form he was in early season.

Milton Keynes must be the only place in England where the kids in the playground who don't 'support their local team' are on the moral high ground. 

:)

If Nathan B could improve his distribution/awareness, he would be lethal at this level.  Still one of our best players with the ball at his feet.  He will lose some pace as he gets older, so will need to improve his passing game if he still wants to be playing serious football in his 30s.  Which I think he will.

The way we play is built on out-numbering the opposition in the central of the field, then at least creating 1 v 1 in the wider areas, higher up the pitch. Four at the back removes one of the midfielders and so removes much of that domination. 3-5-2 and 3-5-1-1, gives us the ability to make the pitch really big on the attack but keep the spaces between players small - for the attack and the prevention of the counter attack.

A 442 diamond would be almost possible with what we have now as the forwards create the width in the top end of the field but our current shape suits what we are trying to do well.

It is understandable after a defeat to think about changing it, but it doesn't make the system wrong, just as a win doesn't make it right.

Byrne has some great feet on the dancefloor too, he had a dance off with Ralphy after the sponsors dinner in this bar we were in 8)

A defeat doesn't make it wrong - Got it.
A win doesn't make it right - Check.

So is the system wrong...or right??

Reading the comments on here, it sounded like we started in a formation that was defensive? I thought Cooper was going all out from now on? Or did I dream that comment?

Performances over time prove a system. Individual games don't.
Oh and by system I'm talking about more than just the formation. It includes the whole style of play.

Everything seems subdued now compared to the first half of the season - the players, the actual play and the fans.

You're not even an armchair fan now?

Did your hubcaps need polishing?

No couldn't watch the game today as at a family do.

Who needs sky when I have the TEF?!

Just booked a hotel in Sheffield for the 7th. £46 quid for two people, free cancellation. Job done if we play either the Blades or Chesterfield in the POs.

A woefully negative line up which didn't restrict franchise who should have been out of sight by half time.

I hope we get the fuckers at Wembley.

Posting this before I hit the red wine.
Driving back today, the same old road, the same scenery it was time to reflect.
Over half my life gone now and most of it has been watching Swindon in this division. Realised that I took the good times for granted, late 80's and early 90's. Today i felt sorry for both my lads, forcing them to watch Swindon. The same kick in the balls, the pain, anger and disappointment, you get used to it.

Then the positive pick me up thoughts kicked in. The laughs, the friends and the adventures that simply would not have happened or been as significant when following Swindon.
I spent the last week in the North East. What was particularly special was mingling in with Newcastle and Sunderland supporters and the respect they had for supporters who follow a lower league club.

That hurt today, it really did but I will be at Bristol City Tuesday, I have already bought the Preston train and match day tickets.
I fucking love STFC. Have made countless sacrifices and nobody takes away the memories.
Yes sure I could watch a successful club from the comfort of my arm chair but no way would I have it any other way.
Bound to be more set backs and dare still to believe that one day, just one day I will watch Swindon in s higher division. Until then it's business as usual.
Swindon til I die. Probably will be the death of me but it still means everything to me and I will continue to come back for more.

I'm undecided of whether we are blessed or cursed having seen the good years. Maybe our kids are better off having never seen it yet, because personally the Championship is like the bloody ring from lord of the rings to me, and I even look a bit like Gollum. My precious, must have my precious.

One attitude I don't subscribe to, "we've done well this season, even if we don't go up". We get very very few chances to exit this league in the right direction, and to me that's defeatist talk. We need to fight with every last ounce of energy until its done, or not done. Either way now is not the time to reflect.

Batch now may be a good time to reflect as I'm still feeling shit after a really negative line up and very ineffective performance. We have progressed massively this season with several players having decent sale values. The off the pitch stuff seems to be settling down. The football has been excellent for most of the season and a play off place is good. Today was shire and we were beaten by a team who were more organised, wanted it more and always seemed to have more players on the pitch as well as some decent players.

Reflect on the game, yes, but not give up on the season as a jolly nice ride.

I'm sick to death with "ooh didn't we do well, never mind maybe next season". I want it now.

You may well be disappointed. At best a bit of delayed gratification after a Wembley win. Autos are gone in my mind so I'm in exactly the mindset you don't want.

Today was shit and the reaction has been just as shit.

This fixture won't be the sole reason why Town fail to go up, that is if Town do fail to get promoted. It'll be because were not good enough over the season but until then, I'll throw my support to Cooper & Co til its conclusion.

...and yes, a season in The Championship would do us all the world of good.

have you given up all hope of winning via playoffs?

As things stand, next season looks difficult.  Whereas at the end of 13/14, you could rightly as it turned out think, we might be OK, as players like Branco, Mass, Kas, Gladwin, Byrne, and the Thompson Twins, could improve with the bit of experience they had behind them, then there was Wes in goal, and Mighty Michael Smith, having shown a bit of promise.

Next season, we'll have Gladwin, Branco, Nathan, poss Byrne and Mighty Mike......so a complete overhaul needed, never an easy thing to do.

Haven't read thru but how bad was the atmosphere today??what disappointed me most was the players reaction after the 2nd went in???where was the belief,leader,the 'we can do this despite being 2 down' attitude??perhaps a sign of an inexperienced young side but fuck me someone take some responsibility to generate some belief...sorry to end on a negative note but fuck me Michael Smith is shit...

we fans didn't do our job. I think at 2-0 it was fairly obviously game over, but gone are the days of singing anyway. there was a brief rally at 1 down.

I feel as if this game got built up a bit to much with regards to importance
The 18 day break, the Sky coverage, we've all been looking forward to it just because we wanted a game, not because it was against a side in the promotion race with us.
I don't feel that loss today would have affected us more than a defeat against someone like Crawley would have.
Win Tuesday, and win our game in hand and everything changes again.
We are Swindon, we never do it the easy way.

We know the PO's are a bit of a lottery....and we know our side can be very good, as well as on occasions very bad, so I would have thought most Town fans would be going in with hope rather than expectation. 

I mean last time, it was a Miles Storey pen miss which fucked us, the time before a bobble on the Wembley pitch, and the time before a 123rd minute equaliser followed by the inevitable, after that, pen misses.

I am not sure if I can take the stress of play offs. I hate them.

On multiple occasions this season Bristol City, Preston and MK have all lost the same round of matches. Let's just hope that happens once or twice.

Who knows, win our game in hand we'll be on 73, just four points behind PNE. They lose one while we win one we're one point behind them come April 25th.

My worry is that some of the players' heads may have gone. Mass may be thinking of who he'll be playing for next year, Wes will be doing the same... it's the Swindon way!

We just need to keep our heads up.

I see exactly where you are coming from Chalkie. I posted something similar mid match.

I still think we can go up via the payoffs, I can't see the autos but never say never.

 I've not given up yet.

yes I know, we may not even get to the final. But we are as capable as anyone. mkd are a worry though.

with respect we were unlucky v Brighton and Brentford, but we were well beaten by Millwall, bobble or no bobble.

....and then there's Sheffield United.

Under PDC,we (fans and players) would have still believed we could get a point even being 2-0 down(irrespective of what league we were in)...sadly the same can't be said with MC in charge...not meant as a direct criticism of MC, merely an observation....for this reason despite my glass wanting to be half full, sadly I can't see that our team has the minerals to grind out promotion via the play-offs.....I would so loved to be proved wrong

The point I'm making is that PO football, isn't necessarily about who is the better team, a bit of luck here a ref's decision there....so if you don't make it, as we know shit happens.

yes it's a fair point, I'd rather not face them, but it is what it is.

Charlton Athletic away being a good example. Dead, buried and down to ten men only for a mix-up at the back for Charlton.

We haven't done it at all since, what, 1997? It would be nice to see Div 2 just once more before I die. Where's that John Cleese clip now?

There's constrained ambition for you, nicely summed up in one quote :)

http://youtu.be/FfnhmuZ27eQ

My boss sent me this a few weeks back when we had loads of difficult deadlines for difficult clients. Hahaah.

 :nod:

So do I Batch. Believe me, so do I. Today though was yet another kick in the balls after years and years of kicks to the nether regions. I am an optimist by nature but that's knocked the bollocks out of me, it really has. The fact is, there are 4 teams in this division who are some distance ahead of the rest. We are the 4th best of those teams. Sadly, only 3 go up.

I'm afraid that's how I feel right now, I have given up on the season, I admit it. Today for me was win or nothing. I don't see us getting second place and I don't see us getting past Blades or MK in the Play Offs. This is some defeated, pathetic shit I am typing right now but it's how I feel, I'm not going to lie.

My one consolation is that we have done staggeringly well this season and I feel better about Power & Cooper than I have ever felt about any STFC Chairman/Manager combination. This team has surpassed my expectations now for two seasons in a row (however this season pans out) so maybe they can do it a third time.

Hopefully, in a few weeks I will be able to look back on this post and say, "Ha! You pathetic defeatist bastard, what do you know?" We shall see.

It's the hope that kills you. Every time.

I hope you are wrong as much as you hope you are wrong!

I'm feeling very sorry for myself right now, I admit it.

Your boss doesn't go in for the standard motivational bollocks does (s)he?

The problem for next season as I see it is if we don't get promoted then we'll have to replace those players we all know will likely be off and then start the process all over again.

using the approach we are only really allows 2 years for each cycle
fingers crossed this is thetime

The formation is a success, as is the general system.  Today it was players who didn't perform or are not quite good enough against the top teams when they are on form.  I thought we were shit, but I bet we'd have won against most today as we still looked good on the ball.

For me Branco, for all his good games has too many games like today in him.  It wouldn't be an issue with a more defensive minded wing back, but Byrne was the furthest man forward closing down at one point, leaving Branco exposed.

N Thompson is dynamic, but a Culverhouse or Hoddle organising everyone around him he is not, again exposing Branco.

The midfield was initially a problem and looks a little exposed without a L Thompson style player bustling about.  Ricktets was not that player and can't be.  Kasim, Luongo and Stephens might be against most but will it be enough against teams who get closer to parity on possession?

Overall, play offs look like where we are headed.  I'd be harsh right now and work without Branco in the defence to prepare us best for those games.  Get the three above playing as the central midfield maybe rotating Loungo and Kasim with Swift depending who we are playing to keep them all fresh but also on form.  Try Ricketts in central defence and two up top, probably Williams and Obika.  I think that brings it back more to a 50/50 call against Franchise and the Blades and should do for the other team who make it.

There would certainly be a massive turnover in the summer. This what I was thinking earlier...

Players who will absolutely, definitely go...

Luongo
Wes
Williams
Stephens (probably on loan to a Championship club)
Turnbull (as above)
Swift (as above)
L Thompson

Unsure...

Kasim - I'm thinking he probably would go but not sure although if he does go we will get a few £££'s
Toffalo - I reckon we would have a reasonable chance of signing him

Players who would almost definitely stay I would have thought...

Belford (x2)
Byrne
Branco
N Thompson
Smith
Obika
Hilton
Gladwin
Rodgers
Various assorted players from the youth team
Players who we get from Villa in part ex for Luongo (purely speculation of course)

It would/will be a busy Summer.

I think Byrne could get a few bids in. But I think a few players would be let go from their contracts like Rodgers...

Yeah, who knows. You're probably right. I think I was just trying to console myself with the fact that we wouldn't be starting completely from scratch next season.

Assuming the worst, that's a keeper (usually ok to replace), 2 x central defenders and 2 x central midfielders away from being a pretty good side still.  It's a sizeable turnover but quite do-able.  If we get some good money in, again assuming the worst case, we should be able to achieve that and balance the books for Power as well.   I'm not sure it's that much more radical than what we needed to do last year.

We lost (from peak):

Pritchard
Mason (now plying his trade for England)
Stephens (who we got back)
Ajose
Ranger
N'Guessan
McEveley

Haha. Fair enough. I'm usually Mr. Positive of the group, too. Hopefully MK and United will face eachother in the play off semis. But as I posted a bit earlier, 2nd still isn't completely off. It's just getting harder and harder...

Two week breaks don't appear to suit us.

3 points worth noting after today's game

1. MK got their tactics spot on. When did any of our players get any real time on the ball? The pressing was brilliant. I wish we could press like that. If we could we would be top now. They deserved to win on the day. The better side by a long way.

2. Coopers selection. What was all that about? The formation fair enough but he got the personnel all wrong. Why go with 2 defensive minded players in midfield with only 1 striker? Pick one or the other but not both. He should have started with Toffolo and Willo in my opinion. Smith isn't good enough and Gladwin isn't a wing back. Cooper has to take sole blame tonight.

3. Did the players want it enough? I think no. Now don't get me wrong the effort was there. I'm not saying they didn't try but to win promotion you have to really want it and go for it. We didn't today. We can't go into the play offs with that attitude. We have to win at all costs. Do I think we can? Yes. Am I worried we don't have the right mentality? Yes, very.

What's all the Blades phobia about?

we stuffed them 5-2 at home and really should have beaten them away

As many have said, even if we did go up, next season would involve a massive amount of rebuild. When Wes, Willo, Stephens, Turnbull, Swift have gone and Luongo has gone to QPR then it is always going to be a tough job rebuilding. But if anyone has proved they can do it, it is Power.

Cba to read back but whatever happens we've proven what we're about with this model so will be able to bring in players of equal if not higher quality than we have this season.

Ok first half, went backwards in the 2nd but that was largely down to them. Gladwin was great down the left and then was switched to try and get the anonymous Byrne into the game. Shouldve started with Willo or at least got him on at half time.

Onwards, the fight for 2nd continues.

MKD are a good team as proved by their results over the season, losing to them doesn't make failure inevitable.

For me, the game that did make failure inevitable for us was Crawley which was the most dispiriting match I have ever seen watching Swindon.  

Playoffs are won by teams with attitude and the one thing about this team, maybe because of their age or maybe because Cooper is no great motivator is that they are completely and utterly gutless.  The skill and ability are there in abundance, and I'm sure will produce a great performance or two over the last 8 games to give some supporters renewed hope, but it's an illusion.  

It was interesting to read the various analysis on this thread of our potential core squad next season and hopefully we can have a competitive team.  I certainly had my usual "maybe next season can be our season" hope when I renewed my season ticket last week.  But this season died abjectly on Feb 21st and I haven't been since.  There is no such thing as resurrection.  

I can just see them coming good for the play offs and playing like they did against Spurs in the Cup. In front of 30,000 Blades fans at Brammall Lane they will be formidable opposition. I think that if we come up against them in the play offs those two games will seem like a life time ago.

Maybe I'm reading too much into yesterday's game but to me, we seem to be way too far away from where we need to be at this stage of the season. I don't see us being able to make up that gap in such a short time frame.

Cooper has done brilliantly this season and I rate him highly. HOWEVER, where he has gone fundamentally wrong (in my humble opinion) is in making too many unforced changes to the starting XI.

The team below played week in, week out over and over again for Ardiles, so much so that it is still etched on my memory now. OK, we got a little bit lucky in terms of injuries and suspensions and I suspect Foley was getting pumped full of Cortisone before every game just to get him through. Even so...

1990 Play Off winning Team
Digby, Kerslake, Bodin, McLouglin, Calderwood, Gittens, Jones, Shearer, White, McLaren, Foley

And look at the '93 play off winning team...
Digby, Kerslake/Summerbee, Bodin, Hoddle, Calderwood, Taylor, Moncur, McLaren, Mitchell, Ling, Maskell

Not quite as settled as the '90 team but not far off. The main change would have been Kerslake going on deadline day and being replaced by Summerbee. Hazard and White played a fair few games as well and McLaren missed a fair bit of the season but once he was fit, he was a fixture in the side. Overall though, it was a pretty settled side.

And the the '10 team (yes we lost in the Final but were easily good enough to have won the play offs. God knows what went wrong)...

Lucas, Amankwah, Sheehan, Greer, Jean-Francois, McGovern, Ferry, Douglas, Ward, Austin, Paynter.

The point is, those teams largely picked themselves and that's what you need for a successful tilt at promotion. We've not been close to that this season.

That's not a ridiculous analysis, but I will say that I thought that when we missed on promotion under Wilson, and when we played Brentford.

Yes Millwall dicked us, but I didn't think we'd beat Charlton. When we went down to 10 men it was game over. Except the opposite happened.

Playing Brentford I thought we'd end up totally outplayed. Our "last 10" record was W3 D2 L5 . In the end IMHO we probably edged the ties, yes we went out on pens - but we could have won it.

Not the best examples given they ended in failure, just saying its not always obvious how the playoffs will go.
--------
Totally agree about the team tinkering though.

It's not a phobia but Sheffield United (and Bradford) have proved themselves to be more than handy within cup scenarios over the past couple of seasons. 

Anyway, if Preston lose at Bradford tomorrow, it's as you were.

And don't forget, the 82ers aren't playing that well at the moment.

We have to go for it Tuesday, properly this time - not like yesterday's damp squib - as Cooper promised.

I'd be happier if he knew his best team and stuck to it. Shouldn't have shoehorned Ricketts into the side yesterday.

If he wanted him to start should have dropped Branco.

Next season, without Turnbull, I reckon we'll see a right good CB in Branco. He's copped a lot of unfair flak being constantly played out on the right and given next to no cover.

I think we really missed the injured  Toffolo, which  caused the unfortunate re-organisation of the side.

An appropriately Roman message to the TEF for Easter.

:clap:

Wild assumptions?

I agree with all of this. When we were firing back in November/December we had the settled midfield 3 of Louis, Mass and Yasser. When the latter 2 went of the Asian Cup it screwed us over because the lads who stepped in did a good job in covering. This is where Copper then began to get confused by what his best side actually was and chopped and changed too much.

As a result it had an impact on our ability to create chances and dominate from the middle of the park, something we had done well up until that point. These long breaks haven't helped us either.

To be fair, I would say the wildest assumption is Luongo going to QPR and that's not particularly wild. I would be extremely surprised if any of those players are at the Club next season.

Edit: I'm saying that, assuming we don't go up. I'm on a bit of a Debbie Downer at the moment.

The days of settled teams seems behind many sides nowadays. It's generally a squad game in the modern day.

listen, I don't necessarily disagree that players could go. I'm on the side that if we don't go up then some will go. You also have consider whilst we think certain players are the dogs it won't always translate the cheque writers of other clubs think it also.

Hopefully we go up and keep who coops wants and get what he needs as after yesterday's display we'll have a premier league season in the championship.

Why should that be though?

Of the players mentioned, Southampton will want Stephens and Turnbull playing in the Championship next season and Chelsea will want Swift doing the same. I can't imagine an other scenario with those players.

I'm pretty sure we would all agree to a man that there is not a snowball's chance in hell that Luongo will be playing L1 football for us next season.

Of the two left, we're not going to be able to afford Williams' wages as he was a Di Canio signing. You could say the same of Wes and I'm pretty sure there would be a fair bit of interest in both of those players.
 
So I am essentially in agreement in so much as certain players will stay. The ones mentioned though are dead certs to not be here next season IMO.

The only player who will definitely be gone, whether we go up or not, is Luongo. If we fail to gain promotion, Williams, Fods and the loaners (with the possible exception of Toffolo) will also be gone. That's not speculation, that's straight from Cooper's mouth. Of those remaining it's not beyond reality to think that Kasim, N Thompson and Byrne may be targets for other clubs and, if Power feels the price is right, be also on there way. The only way to have a good chance of retaining the nucleus of the team is to go up.

With regards to formation and tactics I'm quite sure we will see our best team Tuesday back to who we were playing before Christmas, bar the thompsons.

Actually if we're talking about facts here, the only player who will DEFINITELY be gone is Louis Thompson. I agree Luongo will most likely be gone too as well, especially as we've already been fending off bids for him. Wes doesn't deserve to play League One football for another season.

Apart from both the Thompsons

Top post and agree far too many changes.
As already stated we had the best midfield trio in Kasim, Luongo and Thompson.
O.K. With Tommo out injured Swift would be a good back up albeit slightly different players.
Thompson has that grit and driving nature to his game that we have missed a little.

In the modern game, making changes is bound to happen....we've had to do it through injury, suspension, international call ups and to a lesser extent loss of form.  To have maintained a sniff of auto up to this late in the season, with a tiny squad has been a major achievement.

In fact I'd say our side has been reasonably settled....at season's end, assuming safe passage with injury, I'll wager you'll find that Foderingham, the Thompson twins, Byrne, Mass, Stephens, Turnbull, Yas, Smith, Williams, will all have at least played 30+ games

Nope. Luongo will definitely be going at the end of the season. That is a fact. Nailed on.

Maybe in a FACT! way, yes, but pen has yet to be put to paper.

Well.....what a let down.

I watched first 35 minutes on the box before going to the wedding.

Fucked me off that Cunty Cotterill was picked as a pundit...WTF?! Neutral? He wouldn't give us the steam off his piss!!

I thought 2:2 at halftime would of been good for us as it was a pen to me.

The shit news texts came through thick and fast just before the bride arrived.

Losing to MK is up there with City and the Pox....odious club.....so I wasn't happy...

My best man speech crashed and burned to top it off.....but got pissed and danced the night away to ease the pain.

The evening guests that were actually there said they were disappointed with the substitutions and defending?!

So.....the play off reality has finally been hammered home.maybe for the best!

Saw the Cooper push clip....haven't read back but I hope we haven't turned into Bitchy city fans....if we had won 3:0 nobody would of cared much.Banned or not.... Lewington will always be Ginger....

In Belfast for the City game......I'm crossing everything that we put in a shift..

Cooper's after match reaction, which is on a clip on Linksport, is spot on....he just accepts it's handbags, then says he should get down the gym more...in fact the whole thing, is an impressive reaction to disappointment.

You're right though about the importance of not turning into 82ers style fans....shame that Nathan will be missing on Tuesday, but it would be good if we can remind them about him and do "the Thompson".

I don't think anyone gives a shit about the Lewington incident to be fair, well I certainly don't anyway. Yes he should have been sent off but even if he had it wouldn't have made any difference to the outcome of the game.

Cooper categorically said Luongo is definitely going whether we go up or not.

I would have thought it's pretty obvious that the loan boys will be off as well, other than Toffolo perhaps who we might be able to sign. I hope we do.

As did Power.

But pen has yet to be put to paper.

After being worried about the in and outs last summer, I'm not concerned at the state of the team if we don't go up. We get plenty of plaudits, prem sides will be wanting to give their youth players to us. Also we have longer this summer than last to sign new players as hopefully we don't have a court case hanging over our heads.

Yep, i heard the same statement from Cooper at the sponsors dinner, he's offski..

Can't disagree with a word of that. So, I would argue Cooper needs to pick his best 11, regardless. To me that is: Foderingham, Stephens, Thompson, Turnbull, Byrne, Toffolo, Kasim, Luongo, Swift, Williams, Smith.

There is an argument to play Gladwin over Swift, but the rest just pick themselves.

I'd definitely take that as our best XI. But I'd say that Gladwin and Obika should come on every game at about 55-60 minutes if we're not leading.

V U
I have no probs with tactical subs at all.

I'd also agree with that starting 11

I would pick gladwin over Byrne but otherwise OK.

Same here.  I'm obviously in the minority, but I think Byrne is vastly overrated.  He's been pretty poor for months now imo.

Same here. Byrne reminds me of Mark Marshall - runs around a lot, looking like he might do something, but achieves very little.

Surely he is only over rated if someone rates him higher than his ability?  He's a top 4 League One player, he was in the Spurs Youth set-up, he scores or assists in 1 in 4 apps.  I'd say he's probably performing at his level in general.  He is a far better player than Marshall ever was for crying out loud.

We put in a poor defensive performance, we are still 4th in the league making him a player who is currently part of one of our best teams in 2 decades.  That doesn't happen by having a bunch of useless players.

As I've mentioned, Branco is the only player giving me any concern overall.  He will probably go on to improve, but I'd just be careful about exposing him in the system we have in the crunch games against teams with pace who play it into channels or on the floor.  He's still not a bad player, just not yet at that level.  This is a good bunch of footballers, hence so many getting suitors from other clubs above us.

Top post.

Byrne is one of the best attacking wide players we've had for a long time. The reason he's ineffective at the moment, and Gladwin/Toffolo look so effective, is because of the way teams play against us.

He was still one of the more likely on Saturday.

Ridiculous criticism of him, and the team overall, post defeat seems to be a real theme this season - as if we're massively underperforming against the average expectation we all had for this side rather than grossly overperforming.

havent read back. was inconsolable yesterday... looking at it though; if bradford get a result tomorrow its as you were.
win our game in hand over franchise and we leapfrog them, win the two in hand over preston and we can go there with fate in our own hands.
its looking unlikely now but stranger things have happened; fingers crossed.

Byrne gets doubled and trebled up on him pretty much every time he gets the ball. That shows other teams worries about how dangerous he is. Saying that, he leaves us short at the back and leaves Branco very exposed when teams counter.

Byrne seems to be getting a bit of unwarranted stick on here. Teams have realised how good he was at start of season and doubled and trebled up on him.
I know a few of his own team mates rate him as our best player.

Except, there is now one less game to play, and another game gone where we lost and Preston didn't...

I was a little disappointed by Luongo on Saturday. I'm not sure if he is still carrying an injury, or he is exhausted or has maybe already mentally checked out but he is not performing to the standard he was before the whole international recognition.

Or maybe like Byrne he is just being tightly marshalled.

Theres a video online where he says it is time for him to move on. Probably not the wisest time to come out with it at the moment mind.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/video/423431747764/Luongo-chats-to-TWG

Remember as well we've got to catch/stay in front of Franchise FC, I think they may get 2nd. They're unfortunately the best side Ive seen home and away this season

Dont have a lot to add to the observations about the game here, most peeps pretty much spot on.

Two things though - the first half was actually good going forward despite the absurd line up.

The thing that killed it for me was starting the 2nd half with the 'wingers' switched over that stayed that way until
the 1-0.

There was total loss of momentum in that time period which was a main reason MD went on to score.

To switch them when there was already a weird midfield formation that had never played together before
meant it was odds on everyone would get lost - and they did.

And Stephens attitude really sucked most of the game. Too big for his boots ??

btw this is my first forum knock on cooper this season - that line up and winger switch was just totally wrong... :suicide:

That boot in to the face of Mass Luongo looked a little late did it not?

Or as Bristol City fans would call it, a dive.



I'm surprised not more was made of that. Watching it replayed the ball was nowhere near where Luongo's head was. To my mind the Franchise foot was flicked out at Luongo as the Franchise player ran past. Unluckily for Luongo his head was the nearest body part.


Watching the match the word  URGENCY  came to mind. They had it, we didn't.  The chances we made were virtually all with one of our players, unsupported, in or around their box. Most of their chances and goals came about from four or five of them running, sprinting even, towards our goal while our defence was ball-watching and not closing down QUICKLY or getting goal side of the bloke they were supposed to be marking, if they actually knew who that was.

The two hours spent watching this game, alone, in a bar in Munich, were to be honest not the best. Actually not completely alone, the barmaid Monica was there. I hope there will be more people and/or Swindon goals in the bar later tonight!

Actually, I hadn't thought about the boot to the head Mass got. He was good first half until then, wonder if he had a bit of concussion or something, as it was a nasty cut, so he got a fair whack.

nobody will catch Preston...I am more swayed that they could catch city...difficult to beat with Garner and 'playing at my level' Beckford scoring for fun...

I cannot see them slipping..

Going back to the international breaks...this is the first season we have been affected, and I think I see now why some Premier League managers hate them.  Suddenly, three or four times a season, a raft of players are removed for ten days to two weeks, sent all over the world into different training regimes, leading to different style of play in who knows what sort of conditions.  Our three (and then six) are all young and inexperienced....it must be hugely disruptive for the 'home' team, and it has shown itself to be so for Town, certainly, on both occasions this side of Christmas.

In Spain it's known as the FIFA virus.